Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, carries the UAE flag at the opening ceremony for theLongines FEI World Endurance Championships held on the grounds of Euston Hall near Thetford, Suffolk, UK. The UAE teamis led by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler ofDubai. A total of 153 riders representing 38 countries will compete in the 160km ride on Saturday.

Dubai: His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, leads a strong UAE team in the 14th World Endurance Championships to be held at Euston Park near Newmarket, Suffolk, UK on Saturday.

Shaikh Mohammad led the UAE to a team gold in the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky in 2010 and will be looking to replicate that performance in today’s FEI CEI 4**** competition, which carries a total prize fund of £125,000. The individual winner is set to receive £20,000.

Three world champions are among the huge international field of 152 riders from 38 countries taking part in the 160km ride, which will begin with a mass start at 10am (UAE time).

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Hart is a three-time world championship (1988, 1990 and 1992), while Kanavy is a two-time winner.

Alvarez will partner her 17-year-old superstar Nobby as the pair attempt to make history. They are unbeaten in four successive championships and have won two world and two European titles since 2008.

Five of the rides six loops will take riders on different routes through the Suffolk countryside covering heathland, forest tracks, river meadows and open farmland, all with the support of local landowners, farmers and the Forestry Commission.

Course designers Steve Hulse and Gary Honeywill say the main aim throughout the ride has been to provide interesting and varied terrain that will offer a true championship test.

Hulse, a former jockey, said: “The route may be flat, but it is deceptively difficult and requires real riding to get it right all the way to the finish.

“We have created a route over the best going possible; it’s a track that riders will enjoy but it will need care in places particularly around some of the wooded sections. The three river crossings are a real feature.”

While the individual competition will be an open affair in the team championships, the best timings of three of the four riders will count for the title.

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